Utensil enabling to hold and cut food with only one hand

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a utensil enabling to hold and cut food with only one hand and which includes a fork ( 2 ) and a knife ( 5 ); the fork ( 2 ) comprises a slot ( 1 ) along the entire holder or handle, two laterals ( 3 ) which develop downwards from the upper part of the holder or handle and a locking system of the knife&#39;s movement ( 5 ) over the fork ( 2 ); one knife ( 5 ) inserted on the rear segment of the fork ( 2 ), to which is attached a platform ( 4 ) comprising a V-shaped flap ( 7 ) which is arranged in the upper part of the handle; as well as two juxtaposed detents ( 8 ), these being fixed to the knife ( 5 ) and located under the flap ( 7 ).

SCOPE OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a utensil aimed at being used by people whichare temporarily or permanently unable to use both hands on their dailyroutine. This object is designed in order to allow it to be usedirrespectively of the member or hand which is immobilized.

STATE OF THE ART

There are on the market some plastic forks which are commonly used byairline companies as well as by kiosks selling ready-made food, whichpresent the hybrid characteristics of a fork and a knife in one sameobject, wherein the part serving as a knife is fixed to the lateral partof the fork's teeth, thus not allowing the back and forth cuttingmovement to be performed with only one hand and acting as a “separator”of soft food.

In what concerns this invention, there is nothing similar on the market,in as much as this invention enables the user to perform the requiredmovement with the knife in order to cut solid food, while simultaneouslyholding the food with the fork, using one hand only.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following description is made with reference to the encloseddrawings which are incorporated for reference purposes only, without anylimiting character and wherein:

FIG. 1—is a lateral view of the assembled fork and knife, ready to beused;

FIG. 2—is a lateral view of the assembled fork and knife ready to beused, with the crossbar;

FIG. 3—is a plan view of the assembled fork and knife, ready to be used;

FIG. 4—is a plan view of the fork;

FIG. 5—is a lateral view of the fork;

FIG. 6—is a lateral view of the fork, with the crossbar;

FIG. 7—is a lateral view of the knife;

FIG. 8—is a front view of the assembled fork and knife ready to be used;

FIG. 9—is a front view of the assembled fork and knife, ready to beused, with the crossbar;

FIG. 10—is a rear view of the assembled fork and knife, ready to beused;

FIG. 11—is a rear view of the assembled fork and knife, ready to beused, with the crossbar;

FIG. 12—is a lower view of the assembled fork and knife, ready to beused;

FIG. 13—is a lower view of the assembled fork and knife, ready to beused, with the crossbar; and

FIG. 14—is a perspective view of the assembled fork and knife, ready tobe used.

CAPTIONS

-   -   Aperture of the upper part of the fork (1);    -   Fork (2);    -   Lateral (3);    -   Platform (4) located in the upper part of the knife's handle;    -   knife (5);    -   Magnetic area (6);    -   Flap (7);    -   Detent (8); and    -   Crossbar (9)

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a utensil wherein the conventional function ofa fork (2) and a knife (5) is combined in one single object.

The advantages of the invention are intended to solve the difficultiesexperienced by individuals who are temporarily or permanently unable touse both hands to perform the daily tasks and making it easier to havemeals, thus allowing them to regain their independence, since theycurrently depend from other people, needing them to cut the solid foodsuch as meat or vegetables.

As can be observed in the FIGS. 1 and 2, the utensil enabling to holdand cut the food with only one hand is comprised of one single objectaimed at being used while having meals, and includes a fork (2) and aknife (5).

The fork (2) comprises a slot (1) along the entire holder or handle, twolaterals (3), which develop downwards from the upper part of the holderor handle.

The knife (5), to be inserted from the rear segment of the existing slotin the fork (2), to which is attached a platform (4) comprising aV-shaped flap (7) which is arranged in the upper part of the handle, aswell as two juxtaposed detents (8), these being fixed to the knife (5)and located under the flap (7).

The laterals (3) of the fork (2) are connected by a crossbar (9) whichis located in its lower segment, as depicted in the FIGS. 1, 2, 6, 9 and13.

The Ease of Use

The whole object was designed for the easiest possible use, since thereare no complex mechanisms such as screws or threads needed to assembleor disassemble it. So, if one wishes to assemble the object, it will beenough to slide the knife along the rear part of the fork (2), and thenfollow the inverse procedure in order to disassemble it.

Durability and Usefulness

As regards the aforementioned forks in the state of the art, this objectis intended to be made of a durable metal such as stainless steel oraluminium (to be determined), which enables the user to use it wheneverhe wants to and for a long period of time if required.

The Product's Safety

Also as regards the existing product on the market, it is understoodthat the fact of the part eventually serving as a knife being fixed tothe lateral part of the fork teeth represents a potential hazard tohuman health, since the user can easily be hurt and cut himself whiletaking the food into the mouth, contrarily to what occurs with thepresent object, which is designed in order to keep the knife locked inthe retracted position, and wherein the blade is hidden inside thelaterals of the fork, thus eliminating any chance of the user cuttinghimself while taking the food to the mouth.

Mobility of the Knife (5)

Once again as regards the existing product on the market, this inventiondistinguishes itself by the fact that the knife is a mobile componentwhich provides the correct and required movement for cutting the solidfood.

The “Locking” of the Knife (5)

When in its retracted position, the knife (5) is “locked” by magnetism,due to the fact that the platform (4), which is attached to the upperpart of the knife's handle (5), is made from a magnetic metal, which, ifplaced against the magnetic area inserted into the upper part of thefork's handle (6), will “retain” it magnetically.

According to an alternative locking mode, the knife (5) can be locked bymeans of a half-sphere which is attached to the fork's handle (2) in thelocking position, in which case the magnetic area (6) is removed. Thesliding of the platform (4) up to the locking position will allow theknife (5) to be “retained” when the half-sphere touches the concavitylocated in the lower part of the platform (4).

This invention was devised without complex mechanisms in order to avoidthe inadvertent sliding of the knife and causing it to be always lockedin the preset position (retracted), thus eliminating the possibility ofthe user cutting himself. The fact that the components are “locked” bymagnetism keeps to a minimum the strength required from the user inorder to move the knife from its “locked” position.

The Ergonomics of the Product

The utensil enabling to hold and cut food with only one hand, asdisclosed in this invention, allows it to be correctly used both byright- and left handed people, contrarily to the existing product on themarket, since the latter has the knife fixed into one of the laterals ofthe fork teeth, thus allowing it to be used only with the hand for whichit was designed.

It should also be stressed that, according to this invention, themovement transmitted to the knife in order to cut the food is performedby putting a finger, usually the index finger, over the flap (7) locatedin the platform (4) of the knife's handle, which is designed in order toallow a comfortable and “supported” use during the whole movement alongthe longitudinal axis, whether the said movement is forward or backward.

Embodiments of the Invention

An individual having one hand temporarily or permanently immobilized,needs help to cut the food during meals, since both hands are required,i.e. one to use the fork and hold the food and the other to use theknife and cut the food. This invention provides the solution to theseindividuals by combining in one same object the common features andbasic functions of the conventional cutlery.

The shape both of the fork (2) and the knife comprising the inventionwill be laser-cut from “sheets” of a metal to be determined for theconstruction of the same.

As regards the fork (2), after the cut, the fork teeth (2) will bemoulded so that they provide the appropriate angle for use, the saidangle ranging between 45° and 65°, then inserting the magnetic area intothe fork's handle (2) which will allow the knife (5) to be locked.

As regards the knife (5), after the cut, the blade will be moulded sothat it presents tilt angles between 94° and 154°, and the platform (4)will be attached by means of “soldering” to the upper part of thehandle, thus allowing the user to perform the movement required to cutthe food, the said platform (4) being also the metal part which isneeded for the purpose of locking the knife (5).

According to an alternative embodiment, the knife (5) can be locked byusing a half-sphere which is attached to the fork's handle (2) in thelocking position, in which case the magnetic area (6) is removed. Thesliding of the platform (4) up to the locking position will allow theknife (5) to be “retained” when the half-sphere touches the concavitylocated in the lower part of the platform (4).

Advantages of this Invention

The advantages of this product when compared to the products alreadyexisting in the state of the art are the following:

-   -   increased self-esteem of the user; and    -   individuals who, regardless of the reason, have one hand or arm        temporarily or permanently immobilized, and who are in a        situation of dependence from other people in what concerns the        performance of some daily tasks, can benefit from this invention        in as much as it allows them to regain their independence when        they are having meals.

As will be evident to a person skilled in the art, several details aresusceptible of modification. However, said modifications shall beincluded in the scope of this invention.

The invention shall be limited only by the spirit and scope of thefollowing claims.

1. A utensil enabling to hold and cut the food with only one hand,comprised of one single object aimed at being used during meals andwhich is characterized in that it includes a fork (2), which comprises:a slot (1) along the entire holder or handle; two laterals (3)developing downwards from the upper part of the holder or handle; aknife (5), to be inserted from the rear segment of the slot (1) of thesaid fork (2), which comprises: a platform (4), which is attached to theupper part of its handle and includes a V-shaped flap (7) two juxtaposeddetents (8), which are located under the flap (7); a locking system ofthe knife over the fork, when the knife is in non-operating position;the cutting of the food taking place by the knife's back and forthmovement inside the slot (1) of the fork (2).
 2. A utensil according tothe previous claim, characterized in that the magnetic areas (6), one ofthem located in the fork's holder or handle (2) and another one in theplatform (4), lock the knife (5) when it is in the retractednon-operating position.
 3. A utensil according to claim 1, characterizedin that the locking system is provided by a half-sphere being attachedto the fork's handle (2) and which will lock the knife (5) when enteringin contact with the concavity located in the lower part of the platform(4).
 4. A utensil according to claim 1, characterized in that theplatform (4), the detents (8) and the area of the knife's handle (5)between the same, have a “H” configuration, sliding along the slot (1)of the fork (2).
 5. A utensil according to claim 1, characterized inthat the fork's teeth (2) have angles which range from 45° to 65°.
 6. Autensil according to claim 1, characterized in that the tilt angles ofthe knife's blade (5) range from 94° to 154°.
 7. A utensil according toclaim 1, characterized in that the platform (4) is magnetic and touchesthe magnetic area (6) of the fork (2) causing it to be locked when theknife (5) is in non-operating position.
 8. A utensil according to claim1, characterized in that the flap (7) is also the supporting element forthe user's finger while manipulating the knife (5).
 9. A utensilaccording to claim 1, characterized in that the laterals (3) are also astructural element of the fork (2).
 10. A utensil according to claim 1,characterized in that the laterals (3) of the fork (2) are connected bymeans of a crossbar (9) located in its lower segment.